Glover Teixeira: “If he wants to do a stand-up fight, go box with somebody, because this is MMA.”

UFC light heavyweight Quinton Jackson wanted an opponent without a background in wrestling for his final fight in the organization and was granted his wish in the form of Glover Teixeira. However, it turns out Teixeira came with an added catch. Though not a grappler by trade, the talented Brazilian is more than competent when it comes to the ground-game and plans to use those skills against “Rampage” tomorrow night when they face off at UFC on FOX 6.

Teixeira’s willingness to put Jackson on his backside rather than go toe-to-toe in their tilt has drawn criticism from the former champion. Unfortunately for him, they’ve fallen on deaf ears in terms of Teixeira’s approach to the co-headlining clash.

“I’m just gonna do my fight. He’s saying stuff like that because he wants people to not take him on his weakness. He’s a great wrestler, but his jiu-jitsu, he has had a hard time with it in the past. He’s just gotta work on it. And this is MMA,” explained Teixeira in an interview with the UFC’s website. “He said he wanted to do boxing, and that’s a good thing for him I guess. If he wants to do a stand-up fight, go box with somebody, because this is MMA and people can always do everything. Before it used to be jiu-jitsu versus wrestling, and jiu-jitsu versus striking, but right now it’s everything, so you gotta be ready for everything.”

If victorious, the polished 33-year old will likely position himself as being a single win away from a title-shot. The 19-2 Teixeira was found success in seventeen straight and is seemingly in the prime of his career, setting up an intriguing 2013 for the humble slugger.

“You see older people saying I wish I was 20 with my head today, but I feel great. Physically, I feel in the best shape of my life, and yeah, I think this is the best time,” offered Teixeira of his current status as a future contender.

Fans can catch Teixeira-Jackson throw down (or grapple) on FOX this Saturday night with the broadcast firing up at 8:00 PM EST.

Poor Page can’t get a break at all. Kind a feel sorry for the guy cause when he is swinging its fun to watch. That being said he has had more then enough time in his career to work on keeping himself off his back.
How did that quote go…
“Its not that im scared to stand and trade with him. Its that im smart enough not to”
Cant remember who said it but there is some truth to it

Hopefully Rampage will soon disappear……….dude’s been on a downhill the last few years, getting by on his name and his mouth…..hopefully he is completely dominated by Glover; then he can go box, or do MMA in Malaysia or China, and we won’t see him again……